At Crosswinds Aviation our goal is to produce the safest possible flying environment for students and renters, while controlling cost as much as possible. We have modern glass cockpit aircraft that are maintained to the highest possible standards.

We also feel that good service makes the difference. The owners are always just a phone call away, to help our students and renters get the most out of their flying experience.

Heading West on Grand River where two lanes go down to 1 lane, hangar on the right. We are the last glass door on the left.

Operator Procedures

Fueling Aircraft

Aircraft can be pulled out of hangar and fueled by calling the fuel truck at 517-861-9088. Fuel truck operating hours are 7am-5pm Mon-Fri, 7am-12pm Sat-Sun

Outside of fuel truck hours, there is a self-serve pump at the terminal building on the other side of the airport.

The aircraft log books have a fuel credit card on the back cover. This can be used at an airport for fueling and is included in the wet rate.

Access to Aircraft

During business hours: During normal business hours we typically have staff that can check out an aircraft. If the front door is locked during normal business hours, see after business hours procedure.

After business hours: Renters who have been checked out will be given the code for our lockbox on the front door. The airplane and office keys (for the simulator room) keys are in a black key box in the hangar, next to the door into the hangar. The code for the key box will also be given to renters who have been checked out.

Returning the Aircraft

During business hours: Renter is responsible for writing tach, start hobbs, end hobbs in the aircraft logbook and putting aircraft back in the hangar. During business hours we typically have staff available to help put the aircraft in the hangar.

There is a hangar key on all aircraft keys for access to the hangar upon return.

After business hours: Renter is responsible for writing tach, start hobbs, end hobbs in the aircraft logbook and putting aircraft back in the hangar. We review the aircraft logbooks daily and handle billing the following day.

There is a hangar key on all aircraft keys for access to the hangar upon return.

Getting Reimbursed if You Buy Fuel Elsewhere

The aircraft log books have a fuel credit card on the back cover. This can be used at an airport for fueling and is included in the wet rate.

If a personal credit card is used for aircraft re-fueling, the renter will be re-imbursed for the fuel charge.

Mechanical Problems at Another Airport

Please call our office at 517-552-1101. If there is no answer, leave a message and we’ll return your call very quickly. Voicemails left on our office line are transcribed and emailed to flight school owners.

What Fuel Load to Expect, and How to Change It

Fuel load can be included in the reservation, and we will do our best to make sure the fuel is at or below that fuel level for the reservation. We are able to siphon fuel out of an aircraft if necessary.

Securing aircraft

Please put back in the hangar where you found the aircraft.

Local Airspace Considerations

Best Way to Get Flight Following

We are technically in Detroit’s airspace, but right on the border with Lansing. Depart to the West if possible (runway 31) and call Lansing Approach on 118.65.

Or depart to the East and call Detroit on 127.5. They are busier than Lansing and may or may not have time to take your request.

Preferred IFR "gates" ATC wants you to file from

Tend to get the CRUXX FOUR Arrival if coming from the south. For most flights from the South, we file over CRUXX intersection.

Local Airfield Operations

run up area

There are run up areas near the threshold for each runway

traffic pattern altitude

1000' AGL

Local Flight Planning Tips

Unique Weather Challenges / Microclimates

Icing in the winter

Best Airports to Visit Area

Jackson (KJXN) has a restaurant on the field.
Favorite destination is Mackinac Island (KMCD) in the summer.
Put in Bay island (3W2)
Cedar Point, fly into Sandusky (KSKY)
Pellston (KPLN) has a good restaurant on the field
Bellaire near Torch lake (KACB), very nice area
Northern lower Michigan is a great place to fly with lots of airports

Best Sites to See From the Air

Northern lower Michigan
Grand Traverse Bay
Torch Lake

nearby stadiums

Spartan Stadium in East Lansing
Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor

Miscellaneous

Midfield taxiways only on north side of the field

Aug. 11, 2013, 7:33 p.m.

Crosswinds Aviation is rated 5.0 out of 5 stars from 7 reviews.

Pilot Comments

Got Checked out in the 172 SP Glass for Open Airplane. The FBO was very accommodating, well run, instructors well versed, and prices are spot on.

November 2013

Crosswinds is an excellent school and aviation resource.

February 2014

Solid operation that understands the OpenAirplane program and wants to make it work well. I did my UPC with these guys and found both management and instructor to be quality-focused and safety-conscious. If you have a chance, pay attention while you're there to their other operations. With a program that reaches out to high school kids and enthusiastic attitudes about making pedestrians into pilots, Crosswinds is the kind of operation that's going to help start the pilot population growing again.

April 2014

I’ve flown with a lot of different FBOs in my 4 years, and there’s one constant: those that are within the OpenAirplane network are some of the best. Crosswinds Aviation goes one step further and is hands down the best. From the top of the company to the bottom, every single person is very kind, thoughtful, and helpful and went the distance to ensure that my experience was not only safe, but enjoyable. They even made the trip tolerable for my girlfriend and son who were stuck on the ground during my checkouts (by my choice). If you’re every in the Howell, MI area, I strongly recommend taking a trip to Crosswinds.

March 2015

Nice laid back group of people. All planes are stored in a big heated hangar.

October 2015

Nice people.

October 2015

Great place to rent airplanes and some really good instructors to work with. The owner, Matt, was very helpful and just a phone call away anytime. The planes were well maintained and always kept in a big heated hangar! Gotta love that.